Get out!

 If you know Robert Hillestad and/or the Robert Hillestad Textiles Gallery at UNL, you will clear your schedule to attend the biennial fundraiser sale this Saturday, August 18, 9-4 at 1339 N. 37 Street in Lincoln. For more info: 402-466-0951. Jay Rich says, "The entire east campus area has garage sales concurrent." Who can resist that? Fall's coming, kids are in school--get a project going!

 Justine Petsch (justinej2@gmail.com) has an invitation of a different sort: “I'm working on a signature fundraiser for FoodBank for the Heartland -- an Empty Bowls Event on September 20th. I need help painting/glazing 200 bowls. Work will be done at Hot Shops (many thanks to Tim Barry!) -- all supplies furnished.” Justine is hoping for plenty of volunteers on Wednesday nights in August, the 15^th, 22^nd, and 29^th from 6:00 to 8:30.

Shootings like the one that occurred at the Sikh temple are shocking to most of us. They are a terrible incentive to learn more about people or issues that are seen as different/dangerous to some Americans.  It so happens that my husband and i had recently watched Ocean of Pearls (2008), a lovely autobiographical film directed by Sarab Singh Neelam about the challenges of Sikhs living in North America. It is about finding oneself and understanding the past. It is about choices (on many levels). I highly recommend it!

"The True Guru is the ocean of pearls, one attains it according to his Writ. The Sikhs like swans gather together according to the Will of the True Guru. The ocean is full of gems and pearls, the swan eats them, but the ocean always remains full. The Lord wills that the ocean and the swans are not separated. Only that Sikh comes to the Guru, on whose forehead this Writ is recorded from the very beginning. Such a Gursikh not only ferries across the world-ocean, himself, but also saves his family and the whole world." (Guru Arjan, Var Ramkali, pg. 960)